Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-10-27

securely tied mp. With For Ruth
Gcrrish' written on it, as the Will had
stated, and they went back home.
II wouldn't have touched the old
bible, said Aunt Lucy, in high wrath
as they steamed cityward.
Neither her name or the names OF
her daughters had been mentioned IN
the will
II did not expect even this,
answered Ruth. Aunt Martha was
under no obligation to remember me
in any way.
But to think of a woman who has
five thousand pounds to give away,
and doesn't give q single penny of it
where it will do the good it ought to!'
said Lucy Indignantly.
"Martha's money was her own to do
what she pleased with, saiu Mrs.
Gerrish. I'm sure | never expected
any Of it.
II wonder who has the homestead?'
said Lucy suddenly. 1.-THE five
thousand left to John was in bonds
and mortgages Nothing was said
about the place. didn't think of that
before"
That night, when Rodney Craig
came to see them, Ruth told him of
her legacy.
Il have not opened it yet" she said
as she brought out the package. Hold
it on your knee, Rodney, while | UNI
tie the string"
She removed the wrapper, and
Rodney opened the old book, reyerent-
ly. AS he turned the pages a PAPER
iluttered to the floor from between
them.
Ruth picked it up, and read;
my DEAR NIECE BUTH-I believe the
woman who is true to the man she loves when
he is poor, and hasn't but one arm; is an
honor to her sex. II you had been willing to
marry John, aud have given up your lover, |
should have desp sed you. As i il, | respect
you. and as token of respect give You this
old Bible, and all you find in 1t, and pray you
may be as happy as yOu deserve to be. God
bless you and yours is my earnest wish.
MARTHA FIELDING.
Then, of course, Ruth had to eX-
plain to Rodney what the illusions in
the letter meant. How his eyes shone
when he knew what she had done for
love Of him! He began to say some
thing about a sacrifice in broken
voice, but she stopped him.
Il didn't do it for your sake, she
said; IL did itfor loves sake. There
was no sacrifice about it. | was act
ing from very selfish motives you will
! find.
The Bible slipped from his knee TO
the floor, rs he put out his arm to draw
her closer to him. As he did so some
folded papers slipped out from between
| its pages
He picked them up to replace them.
WHAT are theyP' asked Ruth; "let
Ime look at them"
She took them and opened them.
"Oh, mother! Rodney" she cried
Iexcitedy; they are deeds | think9
And So they were. The old home
stead and farm, "A mile or two from the
village, were left ''to my dear niece,
| Ruth Gerrish." To avoid delay and
trouble. Aunt Martha had had the
deeds made out before her death. A
| slip of paper wrapped about them said
| that her lawyer, Mr. Jeiferies, could
tell Ruth anything she might want to
know about the property She could
take possession at any time,
30, we're rich" cried Ruth. with
shining eyes. Dear Aunt Martha!
| She must have loved me, for all She
seemed so hard and cold. Her heart
was kinder than any of us thought it.
How happy she has made me. hope
she knows all about it."
Perhaps she did. Who knows? Who
shall say she did not?
1T never rains but it pours, the
old adage runs, and it was true in this
! instance.
Next day % letter came to Rodney
from the publisher of the paper in the
village where Martha had lived and
| died. He wanted someone to take the
| position of editor, at n liberal salary,
considering She amount of work to be
done The late Miss Martha Fielding
had advised him to write to Rodney
Craig, WoEld he come up and talk
! the matter over?
Rodney went, ami so Gid Ruth.
To-day they dwell under the roof
that sheltered Aunt Martha, from the
cradle to the grave, and they have
found such peace and happiness there
as comes on earth.
A little girl bears the name of the
woman to whom they owe SO much,
and the carefully tended grave in the
old churchyard where Aunt Martha
sleeps, te3ls of the loving remembrance
! i'm which her. OlElnOrT is kent